Razor-stropping device



April 19 i927.

V. L. CPVVELL RAZOR STROPPING vDEVICE;

Filed May 19, 1924 Qnfuento'o @Hoz wg Patented Apr. 19, 1927..

UNITED STATES VERNON L. CAPWELL, OF CLINTON, INDIANA.

RAZOR-STROPPING DEVICE.

Application led May 19, 1924. Serial No. 714,475.

This invention relates to stropping devices and more particularly to adevice adapted for stropping double edged safety razor blades.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character having a movable strop adapted to be moved in; onedirection to strop one side of each edge of the blade and to be moved inthe opposite direction to strop the other sides of the edges.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means formoving the edges 0f the blade away from the sides of the strop when thelatter is about to be reversed.

A further Vobject of the invention is to provide means tending to urgethe blade to a neutral position between the sides of the strop when noforce is being applied to the strop,1ne`ans being provided to affordprotection for the edges of the blade to prevent accidental contact withthe strop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel housingconstruction fork the stropping. device and a novel blade holding means.

A further object is to provide means for imparting motion to the bladecarrier as the strop is moved to bring the edges of the blade firmlyinto contact with the stropping surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. vIn thisshow- 1n gFigure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through thedevice,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view parts being shown inelevation,

Figure 3 is .an edge view of the stropping device, e

Figure 4 is a similar view of the opposite edge, f

Figure 5 is a; perspective view of one of the casing sections,

Figure 6 is a similar view of the other casing section, y

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective of the blade carrier in openposition, and,

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the bladecarrier andl associated elements.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designatesubstantially lU-shapedk casing sections preferably formed ofstampedsheet metal. `The caslng section 10 1s pro- 'vided with a side portion12 and end portions 13 While the casing section 11 is provided with asimilarside portion 14 andv ends 15.k The ends 15 are preferably spacedapart a slightly greater distance than the ends 13 to receive the lattertherebetween to provide a casing having open upper and lower ends. Theends 13 and 15 are provided with upper alined slots 16 havingy arcuateinner ends so that the inner ends to form circular openings when thecasing is assembled, the openings 18 being slightly larger than theopenings 17. The casing sections are provided adjacent the openings 18with narrow vertical slots 19 extending above and below the openings 18for a purpose to be described. The casing sections are secured togetherby upper and lower rods 20 and a substantially central rod 21 as clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 2.

The numeral 22 designates a roller or shaft having" reduced ends 23arranged in the openings 16. The openings 16 form bearings for thereduced portions of the shaft 22 to permit the latter to freely operate.The shaft 22 is provided at one end preferably outwardly of thecasingwith a disk 24 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and this disk is providedwith a pin 25 pivotally receiving one end of a link 26.

The numeral27 designates a lower shaft journaled in the openings 17 and18, the shaft being provided with a reduced portion 28 arranged in theopenings 17. The oppositev end of the shaft is arranged within the(openingsv 18 and has its outer end preferably flush with the outer faceof the end `15 as shown in Figure 2.l The shaft is provided at theopposite end with a disk 29 having a pin 30 therein pivotally conneet-edwith the lower end of the link 26. Asfshown in Figure 3 the pins 25 and30 are oppositely arranged and it will be apparent that oscillatingmovement of the shaft 22 will cause simultaneous oscillation of the,shaft 27 in an opposite ldirecllU lll

tion. The shaft Q7 is provided with an axial opening,l 3l extendingthroughout the greater portion ol. its length iler a purpose to bedescribed.

Referring to Figure i ot the drawings the numeral 32 designates a bladeholder as a whole comprising)` sections and 34e hinged at one end asshown at 35. The section 33 is provided with knobs or projections 36correspondingin position to the openings usually provided :in safetyrazor blades and the knobs are adapted to be received in similarlyarranged depressions 37 formed in the inner tace ot the section It willbe apparent that a safety razor blade may be arranged between thesections 33 and Bil and held securely in; position by the projections36. rlhe holder 32 when closed is substantially circular incross-section as shown in Figures l and 8 and is adapted to be receivedin the longitudinal opening Si of the shaft 2T. 1illhen the blade isarranged in the holder 232 it projects outwardly through openings 38torined in the sides of the shalt il? as clearly shown in 'Figure 8. Theholder 3Q when in operative position, projects outwardly beyond thecasing as shown in Figure i2 and is provided adjacent its projecting;`end with an annular groove 39 as shown in liigures 2 and 7. A `latch l0is pivotally connected with one end of the rod 2l and the lower end ot'the latch is adapte-d to operate within the groove 39. lt will beapparent that the shaft Qi is free to oscillate together with the holderbut the latter cannot be withdrawn outwardly troni the casing until thelatch 40 is released.

As shown in Figures 2 and l, a spring,` Lll is connected at oppositeends to eyes l2 carried by the disks 2d and 29. The spring il is ot' thetension type and is adapted to cause the shafts 29 and 27 to assuinenorinal positions as shown in Figure 3 at which tiine the razor bladewill be arranged vertically within the casing,` in alincnient with theaxes oit the shafts 222 and 27. llhen the blade is in the positionshown, the lower rod 2t) and the rod 2l will be arranged adjacent andparallel to the edges el the blade for a purpose to be described.

As shown in Figure l the numeral elet designates a strop ot' the usual.type employed for stropiiiiiruY razor blades. rl`he strop is mountedwithin the casing and is passed about the shaft E22 as clearly shown. Itwill be apparent that movement ol -the strop in either direction willcause the shalt 22 to oseillate. A hanger 1 5 preferably ltermed otleather or similar material is secured tothe upper rod :2O and may beprovided in its upper end with an opening` (not shown) adapted toreceive a hooi; or other suitable means ol support when the device is tobe operated.

neeaaoe The operation of the device is as follows:

blade of the usual type is inserted into the holder 32 and the latter isin turn insorted within the opening' 3l. rllhe outer portions ot' theblade will pass through the openings 19 in theicasing as will beobvious. ll'vhen the holder is inserted to the position shown the hitchLt is dropped to engage its .lower end within the groove 39 to preventlongitudinal displacement o'l5 the holder. The device is then ready foroperation and is suitably supported by means o't the 1ne1nber 45. Theoperator grasps the ends of the strop as, pulling upon one end andpermitting' the other to nieve upwardly into the casing. This actionstarts rotation oli' the shaft 22 vhieh action is imparted to .the shaft27 through the link 26 until further movement is limited by the sides ofthe blade coming into contact with the inner surfaces of the strop.Continued `neovement of the strop will not rotate the shaft 22 `but thestrop will slip over the shaiituntil the limit out' its movement isreached. The action of the strop is then reversed, the first named endbeing permitted to move upwardly into the casing while the other end isWithdrawn. Just before this action is started, the spring,r -ll willtend to move the sbatte 22 and 27 toward their normal positions thusinnnediately breakin` the cont-act between the blade and the .atroppingsurfaces `to prevent the strop troni being;V cut. .lt will be apparentthat the action just roter-red to will cause the sides ol.E the bladeedges to firmly engage the stroppingr surtaces ot the strop. rlhearrangement or the lower rod and the `rod 2l prevents accidental contactbetween the edge or' the blade and the strop when the stropping actionis not being performed. When the stropping has been completed the latchLl0 niay be raised and the holder 32 witlidrawn from the shalt Q7, theouter portions o't' the blade again passing)r through the openings 19 inthe casing.

lt is to be understood that the torni of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the saine and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts niay 'beresorted to without departing from the spirit ot the invention or thescope ot the subjoined claim.

Having' described my invention, I claim:

A device oi the character described cornprising` a casing, upper andlower parallel 'shafts journalled at their ends in said easing'7 saidlower sha'lt being provided with an axial opening and a pair oi"cliainetrically opposite slots eoniniunicating` therewith, a razor bladeholder comprising" a pair of sections adapted to be arranged againstopposite sides ot a blade, the axial opening` in said lower shaft beingadapted to slidably receive said holder with the outer` portions of theblade projecting through said slots, said holder being provided with aportion of circular cross Section projecting outwardly beyond saideasing and provided with an annular groove, the ends of the holdersections projecting beyond the casing being pivotally connected to eachother adjacent said groove, a latch pivoted at one end to said casingand having its opposite end normally arranged in Said' groove, a 10multaneously in opposite directions when 15 Said strop is operated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VERNON L. CAPWELL.

